The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-07-23
Will the Republicans Do It !?


From the Bel Air Times.
1t is perfectly plain that the "Dem
ocratic reform" movement in this
State is not in the interest of the
whole people, but is simply designed
to further the ambitions of a faction
of the Democratic party. and that
when the managers through the ma
nipulations of the Free Raisins, the
Sonny Mahons, the Fritz Buckheim-
ers, the Hack Quinns, the George
Trusts, the Jim Buseys, and others of
their class, shall have put up "reg
ular" ticket, the so-called Reformers
will fall to and do all in their power
to boost the men so selected into pub
| lie Office. Some of the reform"
organs have already declared that
they and their followers will support
the ticket nominated by the State
| Convention no matter how objec-
tionable personally the nominees
may be-that is, they hold that no
matter how unworthy a man may
| be before nomination, no matter what
political crimes he may have con-
niyed at or committed. all Democrats
are bound to support him as the party
nominee, even though his nomina-
ton may have been brought about
by the very agencies which the RE
formers" have been exposing and
denouncing!
1t becomes plain, therefore, as we
have time and again pointed out. that
| administrative reform in this State
can only be secured by the return to
power of the Republican party. We
think all thoughtful citizens must
now be convinced of this.
The course to be pursued by the
Republican party in this emergency
becomes, then, a matter of interest
and grave Importance, not only to
Republicans but to many voters out
side the Republican organization who
would welcome a movement which
contained within itself the assurance
that it would restore manliness, in
tegrity and its representative char.
acter to the State government.
What the Republican party ought
to do can be pointed out in very
few words.
In the first place the party should
come before the people with some
definite assurance Of better things.
The public mind has been prepared,
by the exposure in Baltimore, fol-
lowing long period of ring misrule,
for movement in favor of fair cleo
tions and an honest return of the
vote as cast. This shobld be the key
note Of the coming campaign. with
some such measure as the Reform
Leagues Election law as definite
means of securing the desired reform.
In the next place its nominees
should be men of known capacity
and integrity and who have not been
Identified with past defeats and dis
sentions and questionable practices.
The time has come for new depart
ure in the character and the manage
menl of the State canvass-such de-
parture as will afford guarantee
that the reforms needed and promis-
ed will be speedily realized under the
change in the political control of the
State government.
If the party pursues this course, it
will not only infuse new life and
courage into our own organization,
but will attract many voters who
have not heretofore voted with us.
IF it adheres to the old men and the
old methods, it will not only repel
those voters who are now casting
aboutHfor new moorings. but it will
dishearten and disgust many of its
own members, who will not cordially
support an organization which shows
itself to be incable of meeting thejust
demands of the people for upright
and capable men who will introduce
honest and economical methods into
the administration of public affairs.
If the party measures up to the re.
quirements of the occasion. it has a
fair prospect of success in the Noyem.
Der elections.
If it falls short of the duty which
we have pointed out, it will richly
merit the defeat which is sure to oy-
ertake it.